Thank God!

I am sitting here writing thank-you notes.  I am stoked to write them, because that means that people have been called by God to support my ministry.  I want to take a moment to share with you some figures that I have calculated.

According to LCMS, I have raised $11,958 so far.  In this most recent report that I received, I received some donations that stunned me, because I was never expecting them.  Thank you so much to those who supported me as financially as a missionary with any sized donation!  I could not be a missionary (overseas, at least!) without donations, and I thank you for your generosity.

I know of at least $4,000 more that was raised which is being processed right now, but was not included in this report.  That brings me to $15,958.  There was more than that $4,000 that was sent in, but I do not know how much more, so I will leave that out for now.   Also, there is another $1,000 pledged that just isn't included in the total "in".  Before I can leave for Macau, I have to raise at least 70% of my total goal of $27,000, so I am looking at $18,900 before I can go.  Subtracting the $15,958 that I have raised already, and the $1,000 pledged, this means that I have $1,042 to bring in before I am 70% funded!

If that last paragraph confused you, here it is simply: I have just over one thousand left to raise before I can book my flight to Macau!  I have about $10,000 left, though, before I am fully funded...but I am more than half way there!

This is amazing to me, and I want to take a moment to thank my partners in this ministry, and to pray for them as they are praying for me!

Lord, THANK YOU so much for those you have called to support my mission, whether it be with prayer or with added financial support.  Please be with them as they are doing your work in their own communities, and bless those who are around them.  Thank you for allowing our lives to somehow cross paths so that we could join together to achieve the work of Your Kingdom, especially now as we talk about Macau!  Please also be with the people of Macau as You are working in their lives to bring them closer to You.  We praise you because you are God!  You are the one we serve, and the one we praise.  Thank you for your protection in our lives, and for promising to be with us wherever we go!  In YOUR name we pray, Amen!